Patient and Visitor Guide

We hope this online Patients and Visitors Guide will answer many of the questions you may have regarding an upcoming stay or outpatient procedure. If you have any questions not covered here, please contact the Admissions Department at 601-968-1393 or toll free at 1-888-598-2405, or via e-mail at admit@mbhs.org.

ATMs

Automatic teller machines (ATMs) from two local banks are located in the hospital lobby as well as one located in the cafeteria.

Business Center

Daily newspapers are available for sale in the Cafeteria. A FAX machine, and two local bank automatic teller machines are located in the front lobby. Stamps are available for purchase in the Gift Shop.

Before You Leave

We will do everything we can to prepare you for discharge. All discharge instructions will be placed in your red discharge folder. On the day of discharge, we may have to wait for the following: prescriptions, follow-up appointments, discharge instructions, lab results, and any other information you may need at home. We want to make sure you have all the proper information you need to prevent your return to the hospital.

Prior to discharge, your nurse will assist you in making arrangements to go home. Before you leave, collect all personal items in the room. Also, be sure to ask for the return of any valuables you may have had locked up, and any medications that you brought. When you are ready to leave, you will be escorted and taken by wheelchair to the discharge area.

Cafeteria Hours

The cafeteria, located off the main hospital lobby, is open to the public, as well as to hospital employees. Cafeteria hours are:

Java Junction Coffee Shop

Chaplains, Chapel Hours, Worship Services

Our hospital chaplains are available to provide you with spiritual support during your stay. Chaplains are in-house Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. A chaplain is on call 24/7 to assist you. When a chaplain is needed with an emergency or crisis, please notify your nurse who will have a chaplain paged. You may request a chaplain visit during normal working hours through your television via iTigr by selecting Hospital Chaplains and following the steps to request a chaplain visit.

A chapel for meditation, prayer, and worship is located on the first floor of the Medical Center near the administrative offices. The chapel is open daily to patients and visitors from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m. In addition, prayer rooms are located on floors 3, 5, and 6. Sunday morning worship services are conducted at 8 a.m. in the Chapel each Sunday. A weekly morning prayer service is conducted in the chapel on Wednesdays at 11:30 a.m. These services are broadcast to patient rooms on our closed circuit TV on Channel 25.

Handwashing

Handwashing is the most important way to prevent spread of infection. Please wash your hands when you arrive and when you leave. You may use alcohol foam in place of soap and water.

Help with Cell Phone Charging

As a courtesy to our patients and family members, staff at the Gift Shop may be able to assist with charging cell phones. They have cell phone chargers that fit most cell phones, including some iPhones. If you are at Baptist as a patient or family member and are without a cell phone charger, check with the Gift Shop for possible assistance.

Internet Access

Internet access is available throughout the hospital via "BaptistGuestWifi." Public wireless hotspots are located in patient areas, the main lobby and in the cafeteria. This service can be accessed on your laptop with an 802.llb compatible wireless network card. Registration is required and support is limited.

Meals

Because proper nutrition is an important of healing and disease management, our Food and Nutrition Services staff will follow your doctor's directions in preparing and serving your meals. To make your stay more enjoyable, we have a variety of food options to choose from. You may view menu choices on your televsion via iTigr. If you would like to make changes to your meals, simply call extension 1747. Our Nutrition Representatives will be happy to assist you.

Medications, Allergies and Herbal Supplements

It is important that you inform your doctor and nurse of any medications or herbal supplements you are taking or allergies you may have. You should bring medicines or a list of your medications with you each time you come to the hospital or visitor your doctor(s). For your convenience, click here to download a form you can use to list your medications. A member of the healthcare team will review them when you are admitted to your room. It is recommended that you do not take your home medications while in the hospital. Medications brought from home may be locked up. This is for your safety.

Patients should not take IV and/or medication pumps outside the building or leave the nursing unit unescorted by hospital staff.

Newspapers

Daily newspapers are available for sale in the Cafeteria.

Parking

A patient / visitor parking garage is provided on the south side of the Medical Center behind the Medical Arts West Building. All visitors and family members visiting in the hospital are asked to park in the parking garage. Baptist for Women patients and visitors should park at the designated Baptist for Women area. Parking is free. Please do not leave valuables in your car. Baptist is not responsible for lost, damaged or stolen property. For your convenience, two elevators provide access to all levels of the garage, and a covered walkway joins the facility to the Medical Center. If you have difficulty walking, please ask for assistance. Security will provide transportation to and from the parking garage. Call 601-968-1010 for assistance.

Patient Mail

Mail will be delivered to your room. Mail received after you have been discharged will be forwarded to the patient address on file. You may also receive email through "Baptist Care Mail." Email messages sent before discharge will be printed and delivered to your room.

Patient Safety

Your care and safety are our primary concerns. While you are at Baptist, please assist us by following these guidelines which have been established for your safety:

Please do not remove the identification band you received upon admission. This is used by our staff to verify your identity for medications, procedures and treatments. You should remove it after discharge.

Utilize the nurse-call communication system to contact your nurse or the nursing station.

Never utilize a bedside or overbed table for support when getting in or out of bed.

Please do not attempt to adjust equipment in your room. Call the nursing station and someone will assist you with any necessary adjustments.

Please leave electrical appliances at home.

Always wear rubber-soled slippers when you are out of bed. These are available for purchase if you need them. Contact your nurse to request a pair.

Please wait for assistance when you are getting in or out of a wheelchair.

Safety Drills

We test certain life-safety systems periodically on all shifts. In any real emergency situation, your nurses will immediately notify and assist you.

Our Security staff is on duty 24 hours a day to assist you with any safety concerns you may have and to protect hospital property. Contact the Security Dispatcher at 601-968-1010 if you would like to request assistance, such as escort to your automobile, from Security. Officers can also provide transportation to and from the parking garage and other areas on campus for patients or visitors who find it difficult to walk.

Smoking Policy

Baptist Health Systems is a tobacco-free organization. There is no designated area anywhere on this campus for the use of tobacco.The use of all tobacco products, including electronic cigarettes, is prohibited. Thank you for being tobacco-free while you are here at Baptist.

Snack Shop

The cafeteria is open for snack service from 6:15 a.m. until 2:00 a.m., closing briefly between 10:00-10:30 p.m. The lower level vending area is open 24 hours a day with snacks and drinks available.

TV Services

For your entertainment, your room has been equipped with a High Definition Television that offers 60 channels. Included in this channel selection is the C.A.R.E channel on 25 that has been developed to create an environment that is supportive of recovery, rest, and comfort.

Channels 26-32 offer free educational videos that are available 24 hours a day. Also available is the iTigr system on the TV, which is an interactive computer that offers a variety of information about the hospital, allows you to request specific services offered at Baptist, and allows you access to additional on-demand educational videos that are specific to your needs. You can access this service by pressing the “home” button on your TV remote.

If you have any questions/concerns about your TV services, please call extension 8888.

Telephone Use

For local calls from patient rooms, dial "9-601" or "9-769" and then the desired number. There is no charge for local calls. To place a long distance call with a calling card, dial "9" then the calling card number. All long-distance calls must be made with a calling card. No calls will be charged to your room.

Valuables

Please do not keep valuables at the hospital. If you do have valuables with you, it is recommended that you send your items home or request your nurse to notify Security to lock them in our safe until your discharge. Baptist is not responsible for any personal items including cell phones, jewelry, money, electronic devices, dentures, clothes and any personal items.

Visiting Hours

Support person

As a patient you have the right to have a support person present and visitors. This person is designated by you and may include, but not be limited to, a spouse, a domestic partner, another family member, or a friend. Your nurse or physician will let you know if having a support person or visitor may be restricted to provide safe care to you or other patients. The reasons for any restrictions should be explained to you.

All visitors designated by you shall enjoy visitation privileges that are similar to those your immediate family members would enjoy.

Limiting/No Visitors

If you would like to limit your number of visitors, this can be arranged when you are admitted. You also have the right to deny or withdraw your consent to allow no visitors at any time while you are in the hospital.

Overnight visitors

Occasionally, you may desire to have someone stay overnight for support. Your nurse can make arrangements for bedding. Bringing personal bed linens is not permitted.

Please note that guest meal trays cannot be provided free of charge or added to your patient bill. However, to-go meals may be purchased at the cafeteria and Atrium Café.

Visitation

The Medical Center shall not restrict, limit or otherwise deny visitation privileges on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or disability. If you believe that your visitation rights have been violated, you should talk to your nurse, the nurse manager or the clinical director.

If you feel the issue is not resolved, contact Hospital Administration.

Children

Children are allowed to visit patients unless prohibited by the patient’s physician or if the nurse determines it could adversely affect the visitor or the patient.

Persons who are sick, including children, should not visit patients.

All visitors should always follow any precaution signs posted on a patient’s door or ask the staff for help.

Mother/Baby Unit – Sibling visitation is permitted from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM when accompanied by a father or other responsible adult.

After-Hours Access

All exterior doors are locked at 9:00 PM. Anyone entering or exiting the building after this time must do so through the emergency room entrance. Security officers will contact the patient’s charge nurse to verify that the patient can receive visitors, and issue a pass that the after-hours visitor is required to wear.

Restorative Care Hospital

Visiting hours are routinely scheduled. The nurses’ station can provide a schedule.